Article labeling apparatus



Sept 17, 1957 J. G. BRENNAN 2,806,621

' ARTICLE LABELING APPARATUS I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 7, 1955 INVENTOR rlfluzs G.DKE1YNHN BY (w 1 ATTOR 5 p 7, 1957 J. G. BRENNAN 2,806,621

' ARTICLE LABELING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1955 2 Sheets-SheetZ J 2,806,621 Patented Sept. 17, 1957 2,806,621 ARTICLE LABELING APPARATUS San Mateo, Calif., assignor to Owens- James G. Brennan,

a corporation of Ohio The present invention relates to improvements in article labeling apparatus and more particularly is concerned with that type in which paper labels are adhesively attached to the body and perhaps also the neck portions of glass bottles and jars, by automatic means including so-called label pickers or picker arms.

In conventional apparatus of the above character, bottles or jars, while in normal upright positions, are brought in succession to a labeling station, and while held stationary at such station, label picker arms remove labels from stacks and transfer them to proper positions on the bottles or jars. This is standard procedure and utilizes conventional mechanism such as that illustrated for example in United States Patent No. 1,202,466 issued October 24, 1916 to F. 0. Woodland titled Labeling Machine.

In the beverage bottling industry, for example, both labeled and unlabeled bottles are filled, capped and then conveyed to and away from the labeling apparatus which, as stated, may be set up to apply either, or both, body and neck labels. The articles delivered to the labeling apparatus may and almost invariably do include both unlabeled bottles and others which carry permanent ceramic labels for example. Obviously, it is undesirable that any additional labels be applied to the already labeled bottles. 7

An object of my invention therefore is the provision of novel and simple means through the use of which the labeling apparatus will be rendered inoperative each time a labeled bottle is presented to it, to the end that an additional label will not be applied to such bottle.

Another object of my invention is the provision of electronic means operable in response to the presence of a label on an article delivered to the labeling apparatus for momentarily interrupting operation of the latter so that the labeled bottle will not be subjected to a further labeling operation.

It is also an object of my invention to provide novel means operable in response to the presence of a label on an article presented to the labeling apparatus, for shortening the path of travel of the labelpicker arms so that they will not contact and pick up a label or labels for delivery and application to the already labeled bottle.

It is likewise an object of my invention to provide in apparatus of the above character, means for resetting a portion of the control mechanism following each operation of the label picker arm to the end that each labeling operation is independent in all respects and involves a cycle of steps entirely individual thereto.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings: I I

; Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional labeling machine having associated therewith the mechanism of the present invention and including a wiring diagram.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the starwheel and in-feed mechanism for bringing the bottles or such articles to the labeling apparatus and showing the proper relationship between the photo-cells, light-beam sources and a bottle.

Fig. 3 is a Side elevational view of the solenoid actuated abutment which functions to restrict the movement of the label picker arms toward the stack or stacksof paperlabels. The particular apparatus, in conjunction with'which I have, merely for the sake of illustration purposes, shown my invention, is of the general type covered in the Woodland patent referred to heretofore. Since, in general, there is nothing patentably novelin the label'- ing machine per se, the following description will be rather general in nature insofar as the old structure is concerned. v I The labeling apparatus comprises conventionallabel picker arms 10 depending from and pivoted to a carrier bar 11, thelatter being connected to a bracket 12 which is mounted for-oscillation about a hinge-pin 13., A coil spring 14 yieldingly pulls the two picker arms together in the customary fashion. Oscillation of the label picker arms 10 about said hinge-pin 13, so that the free ends' swing between a labeling station 15 and a label pick-up station 16, is obtained by mechanism, including a continuously rotating cam 17 mountedon a horizontal shaft 18 anda lever 19, .the latter pivoted for vertical swinging movement about a hinge-pin 20 and carrying a roller 21 which rides upon-the aforementioned cam 17. A yielding vertical connector 22 is interposed between the free end of the lever 19 andthe previously mentioned bracket 12, there being a hinge-pin 23 securing said connector 22 and the bracket 12 together. Incident to rotation of the cam 17, the lever 19 oscillates about the hinge-pin 20 and throughthe yielding connector 22'imparts oscillatory movement in a vertical plane to the aforementioned label picker arms 10.. As a result, these arms move overand in contact with a glue roll 24 to the label pick-up station 16 where one. each of body and neck labels. 25 and 26 respectively become temporarilyafiixed to said arms and immediately thereafter these arms return to the labeling station 15 and transfer the aforementioned labels to the bottle B, or such-article. The. foregoing, as stated above, is for all practical purposes conventional mechanism which quite generally is used in' the application of paper labels to bottles, jars or such-articles. 1 I My invention, as stated heretofore, involves the addition to apparatus of the above character, of means operableinresponse to the presence of a label on a bottle presented to the labeling apparatus, for-stopping movement of the label picker arms short of the label'pickup station 15 so that when such arms return to the labeling station-they will not have brought'with them another label or labels for application to the already labeled article. The preferred mechanism for accomplishing this result may be substantially as follows:

-A rod 28 depends from the extended free end ofthe aforementioned lever 19 and has a lower portion slidingly mounted. in a vertical guide 29. A stop or finger 30 is secured to an intermediate portion of this rod 28. Both the rod 28 and stop or finger 30 reciprocate vertically with each oscillation of the lever'19 and therefore with each label applying cycle of the apparatus. Interruption of downward movement of the rod 28 and stop or finger 30,'each time a labeled bottle is presented to the apparatus, is necessary in order to prevent the label picker arms from reaching thelabel pick-up station 16. This is accomplished by means of a; solen'oid.actuatedabutment 31 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is connected to the solenoid 32. A coil spring 33 normally holds the abutment 31 out of the path of travel of the stop or finger 30, but when a labeled bottle or such article is delivered to the labeling apparatus, the solenoid 32 is energized and shifts the abutment 31 to the dotted line position shown inFigs. 1 and 3 with the result that downward movement of both the rod 28 andconnector 22 ispositively terminated short oftheposition' which would permit the arms to contact the labels in the stacks 25 and 26.

Energization of the solenoid at the proper times is effected by andunder the control of the following mechanisrn.

A pair of lamps 34 (Figs. 1 and 2) direct beams of light against circumferential zones of the exterior surface of a bottle B and in the event such'bottle already carries an applied colored label of permanent character, light reflected by such label will operate one or'both of apair of photo-cells 35, which in turn actuate an amplifier and timedelay relay unit'36, the latterbeingconnected to the solenoid 32. Electric current is supplied to the lamps "34 through conductors 37 and a transformer 38 from main line wires 39. Thephoto-cells are connected in series to the amplifier and time delay relay unit 36 'by means" of conductors 40, such unit in turn being con nected to the solenoid by electric conductors 41. The amplifier and time delay relay unit 36 is also suitably connected to the source of electric current supply through the aforementioned conductors '39. With this arrangement, it isapparent, that as bottles or such articles are brought to. the label applying station 15, by means of'the starwheel S andv in-feed conveyor C, any such bottles that alreadycarry permanent labels will cause activation of the'photocells or one of them and through the'amplifier and time delay relayunit energize the solenoid so that'the abutment 31 willxb'e positioned and. momentarily held, in the path of travel of the stop .or finger 30. In order 'to reset the time delay relay, a normally closed microswitch 42 is connected thereto and mounted in such positionthat itcan be opened at regular time intervals by means of a rocker arm '43. This rocker 'armis actuated-by a rotary cam which is mounted upon the aforementioned shaft 18'and rotates'as a unit with the previously mentioned cam 17. The lobe 45 on the cam 44 is so positioned in relation to' the high point of the cam 17 that'itopens the microswitch 42yjust prior to arrival of thelabel' picker arms at'the labeling station 15.

Modifications may be resorted 'to' within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of, the character described, means for bringing'glass'bottles or jars in uprightposition 'succe'ssively to'a labeling station, label applying 'means' including label picker arms mounted for oscillation between a label pick-up station and said labeling station and means operable in response to theprcsence ofa labeljon a bottle orjar being delivered to'said apparatus for holding the Iabel picker arm against movement to'the label pick-up station.

2.The combination defined in claim 1 in' which the last named means is an electronic unit including'alamp for directing a beam of light onto aipreselected surface of the bottles or jars and a photo-cell operable by light reflected by such surface.

3'. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for bringing bottles or jars in upright position successively to a labeling station, labeling apparatus at said station comprising label picker arms mounted for oscil- 'lation in a vertical plane'between a label pick-up station and said labeling station, mechanism foroscillating said picker arms, means including a solenoid actuated abutiment positionable to stopmovemento'f said arms short of said pick-up station and an electronic unit operablein :response to the presence of a label on a bottle or jar being delivered to said apparatusfor energizing the solenoid and therebyoperativelypositioning the abutment.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, said electronic unit'including a'lamp'for directing a light beam onto a preselected surface of the bottles or jars and a photo-cell operable by light reflected by such surface.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising means for bringing bottles or jars in upright position successively to a labeling station,.labeling apparatus at said station comprising label picker arms, a rod mounted for reciprocation in synchronism with oscillation of the picker arms and under positive control of the oscillating means, a solenoid actuated abutment positionable to en-' gage said rod and restrict the etfectiveness of the oscillating means whereby to hold said picker arms against movement to the label pick-up station, and an electronic unit operable in response to the presence of a label on a bottle or jar being delivered to said apparatus for energizing the solenoid and thereby positioning the abutment for engagement with said rod.

6. The combination defined in claim '5 in which the electronic unit comprises a'lamp for directing a light beam onto a preselected surface of the bottles or jars, a photo-cell operable by light of predetermined intensity reflected by said surface, an amplifier and time delay relay unit operable by the photo-cell and operatively connected to the solenoid, and a normally closed micro-switch operable by the arms oscillating means to reset the relay unit at regular time intervals.

7. "In combination, apparatus for applying labels to bottles or the like containers,'means for delivering both labeled and unlabeled bottles to said apparatus and electronic means operable inoresponse. to the presence of a label on a bottle delivered to said apparatus for momentarily rendering the latter incapable of applying a label to the labeled battle.

8. The combination defined in claim 1 in which the last named means is an electronic unit including a pair of lamps for directing beams of'light upon preselected spaced zones of the exterior surface of the bottle or jars, and a photo-cell individual to each said lamp and operable'by light reflected by one of said zones.

9. The combination defined in claim 1 in which the last named means is an electronic unit including a pair of lamps for directing beams of light upon circumferentially spaced zones of the exterior surface of bottle or jars, a photo-cell individual to each said lamp and operable by reflected light of predetermined intensity, a solenoid actuated abutment positionable to stop movement of said picker arms short ofthelabel pick-up station, an amplifier and time delayrelay unit operatively connected to the solenoid, and operable byeither of said photo-cells, and a normally closed micro-switch operable in timed relation to oscillation of the picker arms for resetting the relay.

10. .In apparatus for applying labels to bottles which are brought in succession to and momentarily held stationary at a labeling position, oscillating label picker arms movable between said position and alabel pick-up station and an electronic unit including a lamp and photocell operable in response to the presence of a label on a bottle in said positiontfor holding the picker arms against movement to the label pick-up station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,011 Oslund Dec. 19, 1933 2,393,188 Reynolds Jan. 15, 1946 2,436,082 Stout Feb. 7, 1948 2,528,944 Carter Nov. 7, 1950 2,542,282 Lissimore Feb. 20, 1951 2,545,292 'Magnusson Mar. 13, 1951 2,609,926 Hartig et al'. Sept. 9, 1952 

